It was as if Deirdre had been submerged in freezing water.

Not getting any response, the voice continued. “Bren? Are you there?”

Still as gentle and chummy as ever. The only thing that changed about his tone was a slight hint of confusion caused by Deirdre’s prolonged silence.

She felt as though her chest had exploded. Her eyes were red.

It was Declan. It was Declan’s voice!

She thought she had mistaken his voice for another, but the second time he spoke dispelled any of her uncertainty. Her brain blanked, and in a fit of anxiety, she accidentally slid the screen and caused the call to end.

The heater was working in full force, yet she felt her body ravaged by jolts of chill. Her teeth were chattering. Crouching low, she felt a nest of hornets being unleashed inside her skull, buzzing.

What was going on!?

Hadn’t Declan said he was no longer talking to Brendan? Had he not claimed that they were now even less familiar with one another than strangers?

Then what was with that c